Growth analysis of the mouse adrenal gland from weaning to adulthood: time- and gender-dependent alterations of cell size and number in the cortical compartment

Abstract

The adrenal gland is of critical importance for a plethora of biological processes. We performed the first systematic analysis of adrenal gland growth using unbiased stereological methods in male and female mice from weaning to adulthood ( weeks 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11) at the organ, compartment, and cellular levels. Adrenal weights increased from week 3 to week 7 in male and female mice, remained at this level in females, but decreased by 25% between week 7 and week 9 in males. Female adrenal glands displayed a higher weight at any stage investigated. The volume of the zona fasciculata was consistently higher in female vs. male mice. In both genders, the number of zona fasciculata cells reached a maximum at the age of 7 wk and decreased significantly until week 9. Serum corticosterone concentrations decreased from 3 to 11 wk of age both in male and female mice. However, the estimated total amounts of corticosterone in the circulation were similar in 3- and 11-wk-old mice. Furthermore, total circulating corticosterone was higher in females than in males at an age of 5 and 11 wk. In the zona glomerulosa and in the X-zone, time- and gender-dependent growth effects were observed. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that growth and function of the adrenal glands are markedly influenced by gender and age. These factors require careful consideration in studies aiming at the functional dissection of genetic and environmental factors affecting adrenal growth and function.

A highly sensitive immunofluorometric assay for the measurement of aldosterone in small sample volumes: validation in mouse serum

“…However, we see a similar longitudinal pattern of the aldosterone concentrations also in male mice and believe that this was a physiological increase in both genders. These data are supported by a current study where we have also analyzed the zonal composition in the adrenal glands of exactly the same strain of mice (Bielohuby et al 2007). Although total cortical volume was clearly higher in female mice when compared with their male littermates, the zona glomerulosa did not contribute to this genderdependent phenotype.…”

Effects of anthropogenic noise on the behaviour, physiological traits and welfare of two animal models: wild mice (Mus musculus) and Eastern blue tongued lizard (Tiliqua scincoides)

“…Bielohuby, et al (2007) found similar results in a study comparing the development of the adrenal gland in female and male mice from the 3 rd to the 11 th week, where the volume and number of cells of the zona fasciculata (ZF) was consistently higher in females than males. Since this ZF comprises 70-75% of the adrenal cortex (Bielohuby, et al 2007), a thicker cortex in females is likely an effect of gender variances in this area. In addition, a thicker ZF has also been related to greater adrenal gland weight (Malendowicz 1987), which was not observed on this experiment; however, the adrenal weight is not only affected by ZF volume.…”

A Functional Tph2 C1473G Polymorphism Causes an Anxiety Phenotype via Compensatory Changes in the Serotonergic System

“…Corticosterone was quantified by a specific in-house radioimmunoassay (RIA) established at the Steroid Laboratory of the Department of Pharmacology, University of Heidelberg as previously described (Bielohuby et al, 2007). A recovery-corrected extraction was performed before each RIA.…”